Infection of Lumpfish ( Cyclopterus lumpus ) with Larvae and of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) with Adults of the Copepod, Lernaeocera branchialis , in and adjacent to the Newfoundland area, and Inferences Therefrom on Inshore–Offshore Migrations of Cod

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: Templeman, Wilfred, Hodder, V. M., Fleming, A. M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1976
• Subjects: General Medicine; Greenland; atlantic cod; Gadus morhua; Greenland cod; Newfoundland; Copepods
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f76-088; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f76-088

The lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus, was found to be a common intermediate host of the larvae of the copepod, Lernaeocera branchialis, in the Newfoundland and neighboring areas. Large numbers of these larvae occurred on the gills of lumpfish from inshore Newfoundland areas from the latter half of June to the first half of August, whereas only minor infection was found in any month in offshore areas. Some larvae of the year reached the final or seventh stage on the intermediate host in May on the west coast of Newfoundland and in June on the east coast. By July on the west coast and early August on the east coast, this was by far the most numerous stage present. The larvae were attached mainly near the tips of the gill filaments. Most larvae were attached to the gills of the first two branchial arches, less to those of the third, and much less to those of the fourth. There were more larvae on the right than on the left gills. Infection of the final host Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), by stage-7 female L. branchialis was apparently mainly inshore.Adult L. branchialis on Atlantic cod, typically located near the anterior ventral apex of the branchial arches, were numerous throughout the year in the areas of high infection. Infection rates of cod with the adult parasite were usually considerably higher near the coast than farther offshore, the rates declining with distance from the coast. Rates of infection with the adult parasite usually increased from the smaller to intermediate cod lengths and declined rapidly at greater lengths. Infection rates were found useful as evidence of inshore and offshore migrations of cod. Infection with the copepod apparently delayed sexual maturity in cod. Most infected cod (86%) had one adult copepod and declining numbers (12–0.05%) possessed two to five adult copepods. The Greenland cod, G. ogac, was the only other fish of the area found to be highly infected with adult L. branchialis.